Free Pattern Friday - Fuss Free Baby Cardi April 26 2024, 0 Comments

Welcome back for April's free pattern friday review. My monthly review of a free knitting pattern available off Ravelry. Ravelry is a great source of free patterns but its much harder to find good, free patterns via a general google search. All Free Pattern Friday reviews can be found here.

Fuss Free Baby Cardi

This month its a baby pattern and this pattern is by Louise Tilbrook and is available from her website along with several other patterns. 

Details

The pattern is for a raglan cardigan in two sizes, 0 to 3 months and 3 to 6 months, and it knitted in DK weight yarn. I used less than 1 skein of yarn for the larger size. If you don't have 100g of one colour you can use stripes to use up smaller amounts of yarn like I did.

Its a lovely little raglan pattern with several options for increases, I used the kfb version. Its a quick knit for a new baby or if you want to try a smaller garment before knitting a full size one! It also has instructions for Russian Bind Off which I used where stated in the pattern and is a nice alternative to regular bind off especially if you want a stretchy edge.

My Fuss Free Baby Cardi

I knitted the larger size in Crush DK Kingfisher and Bonfire Glow and used just under 80g, the pattern says the small size uses 60g. It's a good canvas for using up leftovers, adding stripes or even adding some colourwork if you wish and the length of the body and the sleeves is easily adjusted. I knitted stripes 6 rows wide and made the sleeves slightly longer to keep the stripe pattern matching the body. My sample is being modelled by my bear as I didn't have a small human available!

I chose Crush DK as its the same blend as our sock yarn so is easily washable and wears well plus we have lots of colourways available. The buttons I chose are by Ethel and Joan who I met at Unravel and had these perfectly matching hand made buttons in teal with a little bit of sparkle!

Advantages of this pattern

• Tips and options to personalise your cardi
• Stitch count tables by row for both sizes
• Good pattern to practise skills needed for knitting adult size garments

Do let me know if you make this pattern and I'd love to hear your recommendations for patterns to review in the future. The comments are open.
 

Link to pattern Fuss Free Baby Cardi

Free Pattern Friday - The World's Simplest Mittens March 15 2024, 0 Comments

Welcome back for my third free pattern friday review. I am focusing on patterns available off Ravelry as I feel its very easy to find free patterns if you are able to use Ravelry but much harder to find good, free patterns via a general google search. Other Free Pattern Friday reviews can be found here.

The World's Simplest Mittens

This pattern is by Tin Can Knits and as well as being a free pattern you can print off it's also available on their free app. 

Details

The pattern is for five sizes from toddler to large adult and can be knitted in four different weights of yarn (Fingering, DK, Worsted/Aran or Chunky) . For fingering and DK weights you should be able to knit a pair out of 100g even at the largest size. Thicker yarns might require more yarn for bigger sizes. They recommend knitting in the round using DPNs or magic loop.

I like the range of options for different sizes and yarn weights as it would be easy to grab a skein from your stash and start your project even if you have a fairly small stash. The number of options does mean there are a lot of numbers in the paper version of the pattern. If this is an issue either highlight the size you are doing on the pattern or try using the app. The app allows you to input the details for your project including yarn weight and size and it will show you just the instructions you need. The app also has links to extra tutorials and suggestions for your project without cluttering up the pattern. The app in particular would be great for a beginner as there are articles linked on methods for knitting in the round and the abbreviations list has full descriptions of all the techniques used. The only change I made was to graft the live stitches together at the tip of the hand rather than pull the yarn through those stitches. 

It's a well written pattern and the app in particular would be useful for a beginner because of the extra links provided. The article on using leftover yarn to make a marled pair of mittens is both interesting and useful. My only issue with the amount of information in this pattern was the number of times I got sidetracked reading different blog posts then struggling to find my way back to that post later!

My World's Simplest Mittens

I knitted the small adult size in Desire Marble DK and it was a nice quick knit. (Can you see a theme with these free pattern friday projects?) My daughter chose the colourway as these will be for her. All our Desire Marble is dyed up in non-repeatable colourways but we usually have a blue of some sort but given the range of options for yarn you could use nearly any yarn in stock! It's a good canvas for using up leftovers, adding stripes or maybe using that skein that's a little out of your usual comfort zone for something you would wear. Everyone should have a pair of fun mittens!

I suggested the Desire Marble DK to my daughter because its 100% merino wool and nice and lofty so they should be warm and cosy. This pair only used 58g of yarn so slightly under the pattern requirements and leaving plenty left if you wanted to make the cuff longer or other adjustments. I will update this post with her feedback once she has worn them a few times!

Advantages of this pattern

• Huge range of options for size and yarn weight
• App supported pattern which highlights the size you want to make
• Links to lots of tutorials and other information from the app and on the website

Do let me know if you make this pattern, or have used the Tin Can Knits app for any other patterns. I'd also love to hear your recommendations for patterns to review in the future. The comments are open.
 

Link to pattern The World's Simplest Mittens
Link to Tin Can Knits App

Free Pattern Friday! A review of The Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief. February 09 2024, 2 Comments

This is my second free pattern review. I am focusing on patterns available off Ravelry as I feel its very easy to find free patterns if you are able to use Ravelry but must harder to find good, free patterns via a general google search. I always seem to end up in a Pinterest rabbit hole and never actually find the pattern! If you missed January's pattern it can be found here.

The Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief

This patterns is by Orange Flower Yarn and was originally published in 2010 and was updated in 2022. I'm not sure what changed were made when it was updated.

Details

The pattern is for DK weight yarn and comes in two sizes, a Kerchief and a Shawl. According to the pattern the smaller size uses 100g and the larger uses 160g of DK weight yarn. It is knitted flat but the pattern recommends a 80cm circular needle. It also uses two stitch markers to mark the central point.

I like the way it has two starting options, a garter tab or a regular cast on, and it's a very easy pattern to follow with lots of stitch counts to help make sure you have the right number of stitches. I found I needed to use Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off to make sure the edge was stretchy enough to block to shape, but I am a tight knitter so you might not need this.

The pattern has some really helpful notes at the end on the yarn overs used to make the increases as well as washing and blocking  tips and instructions for making the shawl larger if desired. 

Its a well written pattern and could easily be made by a confident beginner as well as enjoyed by a more experienced knitter.

My Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief

I knitted the smaller size in Enchant DK and it was a nice quick knit; It took me just over a weekend. I chose to knit it in a fairly neutral colourway called Limpet but I think you could use pretty much any hand dyed yarn as the pattern is bold enough not to be hidden by variegated yarns.

You could use any DK yarn but as a small kerchief designed to be worn round the neck I wanted something super soft and snuggly so chose Enchant DK which is a blend of Alpaca, Silk and Cashmere for a very light, soft scarf. I think it would be lovely tucked into the top of your coat on blowy days to keep the wind out and your neck warm.

My kerchief only used 80g of yarn so I might have been able to make it larger and still only use one skein. The pattern doesn't state what the original yarn used was, or what meterage there was per 100g, so I don't know if this was just because I used a base with more metres per 100g or if the yarn estimates are very generous. You could always add a lifeline after the last row before the border and carry on with another repeat but can easily rip it back if you run out of yarn. This is probably what I would do if I was to knit it again, especially if I wanted to use up as much of my yarn as possible.

Advantages of this pattern

• Easy to follow pattern 
• Can easily be resized if you want to make bigger
• Would be a great gift as its quick to knit
• Ideal for hand dyed yarns as the bold pattern will work with most dye styles

I will have my Age of Brass and Steam with us at shows this year so do come and take a look. I'd love to know if you make one. I've also switched comments on so do let me know what you think of Free Pattern Friday. 

Link to pattern The Age of Brass and Steam

Free Pattern Friday! A review of my favourite basic chunky hat knitting pattern - The Frankie Hat January 12 2024, 0 Comments